Question of the Day

Should NFL players be fired for 'taking a knee' during anthem?

Q: Which team is worse right now: the Nationals or the Yankees? I think you could make a case for the Bronx Bombers. — Mark Friend, Burke

A: Look, I know the Yankees are going through some tough times at the moment, and the Nationals are playing a little better. But let me ask you this: Which lineup would you take — Damon, Jeter, Abreu, Rodriguez, Giambi, Matsui, Posada and Cano, or Lopez, Guzman, Zimmerman, Church, Kearns, Young, Schneider and Langerhans? Seriously, if the Yankees don’t win at least 20 more games than the Nationals by the end of the season, Joe Torre truly deserves to be fired.

Q: Two part question: I do not understand the grievance filed by the Reds. It was common knowledge that Majewski had had a cortisone shot. I know because it was reported in one of the Washington papers. This was reported weeks before the trade ever took place. If I knew about it, I would think the Reds should have known. To me, the Reds did not do their job. Look at the Nats’ experience with Brian Lawrence. Secondly, are there any Zimms in this year’s draft? — Michael, Wesport, Conn.

A: You are correct in noting that Majewski’s shoulder issues were pretty well-documented and the Reds should have known all about them. It appears the Reds’ case hinges on the Nats not informing them of a cortisone shot Majewski received shortly before the trade (not the one he had earlier in the year we all knew about). But that still sounds like a flimsy case to me. Cincinnati’s people had to have known there were at least some concerns about Majewski’s shoulder, and it’s going to be hard to convince anyone they were duped by Jim Bowden.

To answer your second question … I assume you’re asking if there are any top prospects in next month’s draft who could be major-league ready by the end of the season, just like Ryan Zimmerman in 2005. In that regard, no, there don’t appear to be any real top-of-the line college position players. The best of the lot is probably Georgia Tech catcher Matt Wieters, though catchers rarely make the leap to the majors that fast. There are, however, a couple of real legit college pitchers, most notably Vanderbilt lefty David Price, the popular No. 1 overall choice.